Driving mechanism



Sept; 12, 1933. w" E, DE VOE 1,926,435

DRIV ING MECHANI SM Filed Nov; 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WITNESS h LLJAM E. DEVoE Sept. 12, w DE VQE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 VIIIIIIIIIIIII;

INVENTOR ATTORNEY M ILLJAM E. DE 1 05 Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES DRIVING MECHANISM William E. De Voe, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Riley Stoker Corporation, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 5, 1928. Serial No. 317,449 I 21 Claims.

This invention relates to driving mechanism and particularly to a mechanism in which a driver running at a uniform rate serves to drive intermittently a second member, such as the fuel feeding ram of a stoker.

One object of the invention is to provide an efficient mechanism which will serve to move the driven member periodically and with a time interval between the movements which may be varied from a low rate to a desired maximum,

and particularly one which possesses great flexibility and range of adjustment and permits the rate of operation to be finely controlled.

A further object is to provide a mechanism which will serve to move a member, such as the fuel feeding ram of a stoker, with a rapid forceful stroke but at time intervals which may be varied by infinitesimal increments and which is so arranged that the driven member may be moved frequently or remain stationary for long periods between movements.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention resides in the combination of parts set 5 forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

In accordance with my invention I provide a driven member, such as a fuel feeding ram, which is arranged to be driven through a releasable connection, such as a clutch, by a constantly running driver. In order to make and break the drivingconnection I provide a device which will cause the driven member to be moved at desired intervals, and the operation of which may preferably be so varied that the member may move either continuously or intermittently through various time cycles. This may be accomplished by means which will serve to connect the driver with the driven member after the driver has made a single or several cyclic movements; and in the preferred embodiment of the invention I'utilize a traveler driven, preferably frictionally, by the driver and which is arranged to actuate or control a clutch when it has reached a predetermined position in its travel. To vary the time interval between successive movements of the driven member, this traveler mechanism may be so constructed that the rate of advance or an end position or the extent of movement of the traveler may be varied infinitesimally and particularly near the zero point to give a very slow movement.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of my invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stoker driving mechanism, certain parts being'broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 01? Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, certain parts being omitted for clearness of illustration; 7 v I Fig. 5 is a plan view of a part of the mechanism' taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. .1;

Fig. 6 is a developed sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of th steel insert;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the clutch block; 7

Fig. 9, is an enlarged perspective view ofone end of the clutch release lever; v

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the lifting disk; and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevation on a reduced scale showing one method of connecting the timing mechanism to an automatic control.

In the drawings I have chosen a mechanism 30 adapted for actuating the fuel feeding ram of a stoker. The particular embodiment illustrated comprises a fuel feeding member shown as a hollow cylindrical ram 30 mounted for horizontal reciprocation in a ram case 31 ;beneath a fuel hopper 32. The ram 30 is joined by a connecting rod 34 to a crank shaft 35, whichis mounted for rotation about a horizontalaxis in suitable bearings 36 (Fig. 2). A clutch collar 38 is firmly keyed to one end of the crank shaft 35 and a gear wheel 39 is mounted forfree rotation upon the shaft between the clutch collar and the adjacent bearing 36. The gear 39 is arranged to be rotated continuously, and preferably at a constant speed by means of a pinion 40 in mesh therewith, which in turn may be driven from a suitable source of power such 'as an electric motor (not shown).

In order to connect the wheel 39 to the crank shaft 35 to drive the same, I provide a releasable connection, such as a clutch mechanism, which may be constructed in various ways differing materially from the exact embodiment shown. As illustrated in the drawings I may provide a recess 42 in the hub of the gear 39, and a clutch block 43 which is slidable in a groove 44 in the clutch collar 38 and arranged to enter the recess. The clutch block is urged towards the wheel 39 by means of a compression spring 46 which enters an opening 47 in the outer end of the block and which is supported by. a small bracket 48 mounted upon the clutch collar 38. That wall of the recess 42 which strikes against the clutch block 43 when the clutch is engaged, is preferably formed by means of a cylindrical insert 50 of some wear resisting material, such as hardened tool steel. This insert is preferably cut away as shown in Fig. 7 in order to provide a plane surface 51 against which the clutch block may bear.

In order to. hold the clutch'normally disengaged and thus permit free rotation of the gear wheel 39 without actuation of the fuel feeding ram, I provide a clutch release lever 53, arrangedv with one end in a peripheral groove 54 in the clutch collar 38. This end of the lever 53 is made wedge shaped in plan, as shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 9, so as to provide a beveledsurface 55, and the clutch block 43 is provided with a transverse groove or slot 56 which is so located that one edge thereof will strike against the beveled surface 55 of the clutch release lever as the clutch block revolves with the clutch collar, and the lever-53 will thus effect a withdrawal of the clutch block from clutch engaging position. The operative edge of the slot 56 may be rounded or beveled as shown at 5'7 in Fig. 8 in order to more effectively cooperate with the clutch release lever. r

It will now be seen that in order to feed a charge of fuel into the furnace it is merely necessary to lift the lever 53 out of the slot 56, whereupon the spring 46 will throw the clutch block 43 into the recess 42 when this recess arrives opposite the clutch block during the rotation of the gear wheel 39. The gear wheel will now drive the crank shaft 35 through a complete revolution, and if in the meantime the clutch.

lever has been returned'to its initial position, the clutch block 43 will strike against the beveled surface 55 of the clutch release lever at the completion of a single revolution and theclutch will thereupon be disengaged and the crank shaft will once more become stationary. The construction as so far described is in all essential particulars the same as that described in my prior United States Patent No. 1,385,433, and the present invention is chiefly concerned with an improved device for controlling the movements of the clutch release lever 53.

In the embodiment illustrated the lever 53 is pivoted at 58 to a stationary supporting bracket 59 and is urged away from the clutch collar 38 by means of a compression spring 60 supported on the bracket 59. The outward movement of the lever is preferably limited by a set screw 61 so as to prevent it from leaving the groove 54 entirely. The lever 53 is controlled and preferably held normally in. clutch releasing position by a latch 63 which is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 64 on the bracket 59 and arranged to cooperate with a small projecting ledge 65 on the side of the lever 53. While this ledge may be made integral with the lever, it is preferably formed by a separate block of hardened steel attached thereto. i

In order to release the latch 63 at predetermined intervals, I provide an operating member or travelerwhich is arranged to move to latch releasing position and then return to its original position. The member .is illustrated in the drawings as a cylindrical rod 67 which is freely slidable vertically in bearings 68 and 69 on the bracket 59. The rod 6'? is located directly beneath the latch 63 and these parts are. so arwheel 39 by means of a screw 83.

oscillate.

duplicate of the lifting disk 80.

ranged that as the rod reaches its uppermost position it will serve to trip the latch and thus permit the spring 68 to throw the lever 53 upwardly. The lowermost position of the rod 67 is determined by a member '70 preferably made in the form of a rotatably adjustable'cam located directly beneath the rod 67. For purposes of adjustment the came '70 is keyed to a shaft 71 which is rotatably supported in a bearing 22 on the bracket 59. The clutch mechanism and the associated gearing are preferably entirely enclosed bya suitable casing '73, and the shaft '11 may extend through this casing and carry on its outer end an adjusting handle 74 which also serves as a pointer to indicate the position of adjustment of the cam. As shown in Fig. l, numerals 75 may be provided on the outer surface of the casing '73 in order to assist in indi cating the position of the cam. For the purpose of holding the cam '76 in any given position of adjustment I preferably provide a disk '76 which is keyed to the shaft '71. The peripheral surface ing with this surface is a ball I? mounted in a support '78 and pressed against the disk by means of a spring '79.

One important feature of my invention consists in a mechanism arranged to advance the member 6'7 gradually upwarduntil it strikes the latch 63 and then return it to its lowermost position.- This member 67 is preferably advanced intermittently by means of a friction device operated by the rotation of the gear 39. One form of driving mechanism which I have found suitable for this purpose comprises a lifting disk 80 shown clearly in Fig. 10. This is simply a plain disk or washer preferably provided with beveled edges, as shown, and having a circular opening 81 through its center slightly larger in diameter than the rod 67. This lifting disk is placed upon the rod at; assembly. In order toactuate the lifting disk I provide a short arm or lifting lever 82 provided with a notch in one end which engagesthe edge of the disk, as shown in Fig. 1."

This lever 82 is mounted upon a shaft 83 which is free to rotate in a bearing 84 in bracket 59. At the opposite end of the shaft 83, I provide a sec- 0nd leveror arm 86 which is located in the path of a roller 87 mounted on the rotating gear The lever 82 normally rests by gravity upon a pin 89 which is preferably adjustable vertically by means of a cam 90 therebeneath. The pin 89 may be held in any given adjusted position by means of a thumb screw 91. The rod 67 and disk 80 form a one way frictional ratchet mechanism.

It will now be seen that asthe gear wheel 39 rotates the roller 87 will strike the arm 86 at each revolution and thus cause the lever 82 to 82 moves upward it causes the lifting disk 86 to bind friotionally against the sides of the rod 6-! and thus force it upwardly. Inorder to prevent the rod 67 from dropping back as the lever 82 moves back to its original position, I provide a checking disk 93 which is preferably an This is shown mounted upon the rod 67 beneath the lifting disk and arranged with its edge resting against a flange 94 on the pin '89. This checking disk serves to frictionally prevent reverse movement of therod 67 at the end of each upward impulse imparted to it by the lifting disk. The extent of oscillation of the lever 82, and hence the rate of upward advance of the rod 67 is controlled by As the outer notched end of the lever K the position of the pin 89. The minimum-length of each upward step is not limited by mechanical considerations and may be made infinitesimal if desired.

In order to return the rod 67 to its lowermost position after it has tripped the latch 63 I provide a release mechanism which is so, constructed as to eliminate the friction between the two disks and the rod, and thus permit the rod to fall back under the influence of gravity. As illustrated, I may provide a releasing member 95 which is mounted by means of a set screw 97 on a vertical rod 98, and which extends beneath each of the disks. The rod 98 is slidable vertically in bearings 100 and 101 in the bracket 59 and rests by gravity on a lever 102 whichis pivoted to the bracket 59 at 103 and is connected by a link 105 to the clutch release lever 53. It will thus be seen that whenever the lever 53 moves upwardly it will act through the link 105 to lift the lever 102 and the release member 95. As the release member 95 strikes the lifting and checking disks 80 and 93 it causes them to assume a substantially horizontal position perpendicular to the rod 67, thus eliminating the holding friction and permitting the rod 67 to fall by gravity until it strikes the cam 70.

In order to return the clutch release lever 53 1 to its original position after the latch has been Cil before tripping of the latch 63.

tripped I provide a reset cam 107, which is attached by means of screws 108 to the clutch collar 38. This cam may be located adjacent to the clutch block 43 as shown, and may assist in retaining it in the groove 44. This cam 107 is so shaped and located as to strike against the lever 102 as the crank shaft rotates and thus acts through the link 105 to return the clutch release lever 53 to its original position where it is retained by the latch 63.

It will now be seen that'the rate of the fuel feed may be varied by adjusting either the cam 90 or the cam '70. Adjustment of the former cam changes the angle through which the lever 82 is oscillated and thus varies the amount by which the operating member 67 is advanced for each revolution of the gear wheel 39, whereas adjustment of the latter cam changes an end position of the operating member and thus varies the total distance through which it is compelled to move Either adjustment results in a variation in the time interval between successive clutch actuations, and either of these cams may be connected up to a suitable automatic control apparatus so as to vary the fuel feed in accordance with any desired external condition such as the steam pressure in the boiler being fired by the stoker. In case it is desired to utilize automatic control inconnection with my invention, I prefer to connect the'automatic mechanism to the cam 90 and retain a manual adjustment of the cam 70 independent of the automatic control. For this purpose I may provide an arm 110 (Fig. 4) which is mounted on the outer end of the shaft 111 of the cam 90, and I may connect this arm 110 by means of a link 112 with a bell crank 114, which is pivotally mounted on the outside of the ram case as shown in Fig. 11. The bell crank, in turn, may be connected by a link 115 with an automatic control screw 91 is eitherloosened or removed entirely.

The operation of my invention will now be apparent from the above disclosure. The pinion 40 is rotated continuously at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow by any suitable source of power and this causes the gear wheel 39 to rotate continuously at'a reduced speed. At each revolution of the gear wheel the roller 8'7 strikes the arm 86 and thus oscillates the lever 82 an amount which is dependent upon the adjustment of the cam 90. This causes the lifting disk to advance the operating rod 67 upwardly by friction, backward movement of the rod being prevented by checking disk 93. After a predetermined time interval the rod 67 will strike the latch 63 and release the lever 53 which will be thrown upwardly against the set screw 61 by the compression spring 60. At the same time the release member 95 is moved upwardly by the lever 102 and the rod 67 falls down against the cam 70. As soon as the lever 53 moves out of the notch 56 the clutch block 43 is thrown against the gear wheel by means of the spring 46 and enters the recess 42 in the gear wheel as soon as this recess reaches a' point opposite the clutch block. This causes the clutch collar 38 and crank shaft 35 to rotate with the gear wheel, and the reset cam 107 will thus strike against the lever 102 and return the lever 53 to its original position. As soon as the crank shaft has made one revolution and thus caused the ram to feed a single charge of fuel into the furnace, the clutch block 43 will strike against the beveled end of the clutch release member 53, and will thus be withdrawn from the recess 42.-

The invention provides a flexibility and range of adjustment which has never before been attained in this type of apparatus. If desired, the

cam '70 may be adjusted to hold the latch released all of the time, whereupon the clutch will remain engaged and the ram will be operated continuously. Or the mechanism may be so adjusted that the clutch will be engaged periodically after the driving gear wheel has made any desired number of rotations. When it is desired to bank a fire an enormous amount of coal may be fed to the furnace in a very short time, and the fuel feed m ay then be immediately reduced to the slight amount necessary to maintain the banked fire. The timing mechanism is particularly adapted for use in connection with automatic control and when so used a secondary manual adjustment is provided which permits the fire to be built up or thinned down, as desired, regardless of the automatic device. This manual adjustment also permits a variation in the fuel to air ratio, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as'new and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1. A mechanism comprising a driven member, a constantly running driver, means operable in timed relation with said driver to connect the driver with the driven member. and cause the driver to move the driven member intermittently, and manuallyadjustable means whereby a continuous connection may be maintained between the driver and the driven member.

2. A mechanism comprising a movable member, a constantly running driver, means to-con-- nect said driver with the member to drive the same, and meansfrictionally driven from said governingthe movement of the member.

eler and so vary the time ber, a constantly running driver, means to connect the driver with the member to drive the same, and means including a one-way friction clutch mechanism driven from said driver for controlling said connecting means and governing the movements of the member.

5. A mechanism comprising a movable. member, a constantly rotating driver, a clutch for connecting said rotating driver with the member, and clutch controlling means including a one-Way friction clutch mechanism driven from said constantly rotating driver and arranged to cause clutch engagement after a predetermined number of rotations of the constantly rotating driver.

6. A mechanism comprising a movable member, a constantly running driver, a clutch. to connect the driver with the movable member, mechanism to engage and disengage the clutch, means including an operating member movable to control said mechanism, means to move the operating member in timed relation with the driver first in one direction to cause engagement of the clutch and then in the opposite direction back to its original position,-and an adjusting stop arranged to determine the said original position of the operating member. t

7. A mechanism comprising-a movable member, a constantly running driver, a clutch to including a traveler operable through a cyclic I movement'to actuate therclutch when the traveler has been moved to a predetermined position, and means to vary an end'position of the travcycle. I

9. A mechanism comprising a member, a constantly running driver, means including a clutch to connect the driver and said member, means to throw the clutch periodically including a traveler movable intermittently in timed relation with the driver through successive increments of distance which may be varied infinitesimally, and

means for varying the extent of each intermittent movement.

10. A mechanism comprising a movable memly'driven mechanism for releasing said latch at predetermined intervals, and means to reset the latch automatically after each release.

11. A mechanism comprising a movable member, a constantly running driver, a clutch mech-' anism for connecting the driver with the member a device to control the clutch mechanism, a latch arranged to normally hold the device in a posiconsumed in eachtion to, maintain the clutch mechanism disengaged, positively driven mechanism for releasing said latch at predetermined intervals, and means to reset the latch automatically after each release.

12. A mechanism comprising a movable member; a constantly running driving member, a clutch mechanism for connecting the driving member with the movable member, a device to control the clutch mechanism, a latch. arranged to normally hold the device in a position to maintain the clutch mechanism disengaged, means driven by said constantly running member for releasing said latch at predetermined intervals, and means effective to disengage the clutch and reset the latch automatically after actuation of the movable member.

13. A mechanism comprising a movable member, a constantly running driving member, a clutch mechanism for engaging said driving member with the movable member, a device to control the clutch mechanism, a latch arranged to normally hold the device in a position to maintain the clutch mechanism disengaged, an operating member movable to release the latch and thus cause engagement ofthe clutch, means driven from the constantly running member for advancing the operating member intermittently towardslatch releasing position, means for returning the operating member automatically to .its original position after releasing of the latch,

and means to reset the latch automatically after each release.

H 14. A mechanism comprising a movable member, a constantly running driving member, a clutch mechanism for connecting the driving member with the. movable member, a device to control clutch mechanism, a latch arranged to normally hold the device in a position to maintain the clutch mechanism disengaged, an operating membermovable to release the latch, means driven by the constantly running member for advancing the operating member toward latch releasing position, means for varying the rate of advance, and means for returning the operating member automatically to its original position after releasing of the latch. i

15. A mechanism comprising a movable member, a constantly running driving member, a clutch mechanism for connecting the driving member with the movable member, a latch arranged to normally hold the clutch mechanism disengaged, an operating member movable to release thelatch, means driven by the constantly running member for advancing the operating member toward a latch releasing position, means for returning the operating member to its original position after releasing of the latch,

and means for varying the total amount of movement of the operating member between its original position and latch releasing position.

16; A mechanism comprising a movable mem ber, a' constantly running driving member, a

clutch mechanism for connecting the driving member with the movable member, a device to control clutch mechanism, a latch arranged to normally hold the device in a position to maintain the clutch mechanism disengaged, an operating member movable to release the latch, means to advance the operating member step by step toward a latch releasing position, and means for varying the length of the steps.

17 A mechanism comprising a movable member, a constantly running driving member, a

clutch mechanism for connecting the drivingmember with the movable member, a latch arranged to normally hold the clutch mechanism disengaged, an operating member movable to release the latch; means to advance the operating member automatically toward latch releasing position, means to vary the rate of advance, means to return the operating member automatically to its original position after releasing of the latch. and means to vary the total amount of movement of the operating member betweenits original position and latch releasing position' 18. A mechanism comprising a movable memher, a constantly running driver, a clutch to connect the driver with the member, a slidable rod arranged to actuate the clutch when moved to a predetermined position, a member mounted on the rod and provided with an opening therethrough slightly larger than the rod, and means operated from the driver for imparting impulses to the last-mentioned member at a point spaced from the rod and in the direction of travel of the rod, whereby the rod is intermittently advanced by friction toward clutch actuating position.

19. A mechanism comprising a movable member, a constantly running driving member, a clutch mechanism for connecting the driving member with the member, a latch arranged to normally hold the clutch mechanism disengaged, a rod slidable to release the latch, a member mounted on the rod and provided with an open ing therethrough slightly larger than the rod, and means for imparting impulses to the last-mentioned member at a point spaced from the rod and in the direction of travel of the rod, whereby the rod is intermittently advanced by friction toward latch releasing position.

influence of gravity.

20. A mechanism comprising a movable member, a constantly running driving member, a clutch mechanism for connecting the driving member with the member, a latch arranged to normally hold the clutch mechanism disengaged, a cylindrical rod slidable to release the latch, a disk mounted on the rod and provided with an opening therethrough slightly larger in diameter that the rod, and means driven from said constantly running member for imparting impulses to the disk near its edge and in the direction of travel of the rod, whereby the rod is intermittently advanced by friction toward latch releasing position.

21. A mechanism comprising a movable member, a constantly running driving member, a clutch mechanism for connecting the, driving member with the movable member, a latch arranged to normally hold the clutch mechanism disengaged, a cylindrical rod beneath the latch and slidable vertically upward to release the latch, a disk mounted on the rod and provided with an opening therethrough slightly larger in diameter than the rod, a lever mounted for oscillation and arranged to engage the disk near its edge, means to oscillate the lever at regular intervals, a second disk mounted on the rod which is similar to the first disk and which is supported near its edge to normally prevent downward movement of the rod, and means efiective after release of the latch to decrease the friction between the rod and the disks and thus cause the rod to fall under the WILLIAM E. DE VOE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,926,435. September 12, 1933.

WILLIAM E. DE VOE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numoered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, lines 27 and 79, claims 19 and 20, respectively, before "member" second occurrence, insert the word "movable"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Sign d and sealed this 24th day of October, A. D. 1933.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

